Massaging- device



' F. K. NORTH.

v MASSAGING DEVICE. APPLICATION n-uao Nov. 11, I919.

, 1,377,140. Patented m 3; 192 1.

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J /IIII/IIIIIIIIIII/l/Il/ lnv enTor. I Frederick; Noflh b WM&W Afiys.

' rnnnnnicx 1:. NORTH,

02 CHICAGO, In In'oIs.

"MASSAGING DEVICE.

Application filed Hovember T all whomz't may concern: I

Be it known that I, FREDERICK K. NORTH, a citizen of the UnitedState's,.and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, Stateof Illinois,whose post-oflice address is 1461 Foster avenue, Chicago, Illinois, haveinvented an Improvement in, Massaging Devices, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, likecharacters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in massaging apparatusv and theobject thereof is to provide a simple and effective massaging devicewhich may be held in the hand and passed over portions ofthe body of apatient, the massaging instrumentalities be.- ing so actuated as toproduce rubbingor kneading action. which simulate the action of thefingersof a masseur.

A further object of the. invention is to provide an electricallyoperated massaging device in which the motor is carriedin the handle ofthe device and the massagingin strumentalities are operated directlyfrom the motor shaft through 'suitablereducing gears. I r I A furtherobject ofv the inventioniis to providev a novel forum of massaginginstrumentalities or fingers which are yieldably I connected to suitableactuators thereby preventing the possibility of injury to the patient byundue force exerted upon the massaging instrumentalities.

A further object, ,of: the invention is tof provide a massaging. devicein-which the massaging instnimentalities can be readily,

sterilized.

Further objects and features of the in; vention willmore fully appearifromthe' following description and the accompanying drawingsand willbejpointed out inthe annexed claims..- e In the drawings Figure 1 is aside elevation of a-massaging device embodying the preferred'forin' ofmy invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal median ing shown inelevation.-

Fig. 3 IS a longitudinal fvert cal sectional'view of the'device, therm'otorbe ating shaft, Fig. 4 is, a transverse vert cal sectionalSpecification of Letters Patent.

v v sectional. view throughthe actuators and: the r :actu-r I ;PatentedMay 3, 1921 11, 1919. Seria1.Ng 337,355 I p Fig. 5, is a transversevertical sectional view on lines 5-5 ig. 2. I

The massaging device illustrated in the accompanying drawing comprises acasing, the body of which may bemade of two substantially cylindricalsections, theabutting edges of which may beconnected together bybrazingor in any other suitable manner. i V 1 The casing comprises a handleportion 1 preferablyv cylindrical in form, a central portion2 which maybe broader than'the handle portion and of less vertical height to .5receive the frame for supporting the motor shaft and anextension portion3 preferably of somewhat less width than that of the portion 2) tosupport the massaging instrum'entalities and the means for actuatingithesame.

' The ends of the casing desirably are 'coinposed of heads 4; and 5which are provided with flanges embracingtheends ofthe casing. .Asuitable electric motor 6 is mounted in the handle portion ofthe leasingand desirably is supportedat one end by a bracket 7 secured to the head1 and provided with -bosses for supporting brush carriers 8 and 9. uponwhich the brushes 10 and 11 for the motor commutator arepivoted. I

At its OPPOSltGBHd the motor shaft 13 is supported in a journal 14 in acylindrical boss 15 on one of a'pair of, frame members 16, 17 whichsupport speed reducing mechanism by which power is. transmitted diwhichactuates the massaging instrumentalities. The framelmember 17 isprovided with said cam shaftbeingjournaled in a bracket 20 secured to,orformed integral with the head 5 of the casingf The frame members 16,17are spaced apart by hollow shafts 21 and 22, which are seated insuitable bosses in themeinbers 16, 17 and are rigidly secured thereto byscrews 23. The hollow shafts 21 'and22 a'ct both to securethe frame-members ;16and,1'7. together and also as shafts for the members of thetrain of reducinggearsflthrough which the motor drives the camshaft/l1 Iherein comprises a pinion 24 upon the motor shaft fwhich engages alarger gear 25 rectly: from the motor shaft to a cam shaft aboss 18forming a journal for one end of p They train of reducing gearingillustrated likewise has a hub provided with a gear 30 which meshes witha gear 31 fixedly secured to the end 32 of the cam shaft 19 whichdesirably is made hollow'throughout the major portion of its length inorder to decrease the weight of the device. The end of the motor shaft13 desirably extends into the end 32 of the shaft 19 thus forming anaxial connection between the motor shaft and the cam shaft which willprevent relative lateral vibration and insure proper driving of the camshaft by the motor.

The massaging devices desirably are in the form of fingers preferably ofwood and of general triangular shape having a con- .vexedly curvedbottom portion 33, the triangular portion 34 extending upwardlytherefrom being mounted upon shafts 35,

journaled in extensions 36 of cylindrical brackets 37 fixedly secured tothe under surface of the casing extension 3. The finger members 33"areprovided with transverse apertures 38 which receive U-shaped supportingmembers 39 having curved or hooked ends 40 which are engaged by springs41, 42 which are connected. respectively to apertures in oppositelyextending arms 43, 44 of actuators 45, 46.

The fingers 33 desirably present convex, preferably spherical, fleshengaging ends and are inclosed in a sheath 47 of rubber or other similarresilient "material which fits around the convex end port-ions 33 and isprovided with a constriction 48 which serves to retain them tightlyembracing the convex ends. Thesheathing preferably is provided with asomewhat enlarged body portioni49 which has at its upper end a bead 50which engages behind a complementary bead 51 upon the bracket 36 therebyremovably securing the sheathing to the casing and The enlarged aroundthe finger member. 7 flexible body portion'49 permits the lateralvibration of the convex end portions ofthe:

massaging instrumentalities, while excluding dust from the mechanismwhich actuates it. V

The actuators desirably are in the form of inverted T-shaped memberswhich for con-v venience in construction may each be made in two partshaving respectively bosses 52 which form bearings for mountin said actu'ators upon the shaft 53. This shaft may be in the form of a sleevecarried by bosses 54, 55 projecting respectively from the frame member16 and from the'head 5 of the casing, a screw threadedfod 56 extending"through said sleeve shaft 53 and anchored in the member 17 of the frameserves to fasten the head 5 firmly upon the end of the casing extension3. By removing the rod 56 oil can be introduced through the sleeve shaft53 to lubricate the reducing gears. The head 5 may also be provided witha central oil duct through which oil may be supplied to the hollow camshaft to lubricate the driving shaft, a screw being used to close saidduct. The vertical arms of the T- shaped members are connected togetherby studs upon which suitable antifriction rollers 5'7 are mounted whichengage cams 58 upon the cam shaft 19. The actuators for the variousmassaging instrumentalities may be spaced apart by sleeves 59 and 60upon the sleeve shaft 53', the spacing sleeves being of sufficientlength to position the actuators in proper relation to the massaginginstrumentalities. The adjacent ends of the inwardly extending arms 44of the actuators overlap and are movably connected together by astud 61fixedly secured to one set of inwardly extending arms, said stud 61engaging' the slot 62 in the end of'the Other horizontally extendingarm. An antifriction roller 63xjournaled upon the stud 61 also engagesthe cam 58 and serves to oscillate the actuator in the oppositedirection from that in which it is moved by the antifriction roller 57..

In the operation of the device the rotation by the motor 6 of its shaft13 transmits a reduced rotary movement to the cam shaft 19. As the camshaft rotates the cams 58 engage the antifriction rollers 57 on thevertical arms of the actuators 45 and 46, thereby oscillating saidactuators about their pivotal supports 53 and simultaneously depressingthe arms 43 and raising the arms 44. The camsl5 8 however, are soconstructed as to engage the roller 63, thereby pressing: upon the endsof the arms 44 and oscillating the actuators 45 and-46in the oppositedirection to that in which it is oscillated through the antifrictionrollers 57. r

Inasmuch as the arms 43 and 44 of the actua'tors are connected throughthe springs 41 andv 42' with the U-shaped member 39 of the massaginginstrumentality, the latter will be vibrated laterally of the axis ofthe device. The massaging instrumentalities are arranged in pairs sothat they will be caused alternately to approach toward and recede fromeach other, thereby exertinga rubbing or kneading action as they areapplied to the flesh of the patient being treated. The massaging devicedesirably is provided with a plurality of pairs .of massaging apparatusand actuatorsfor operating the same, the cams 58 for the successivepairs of actuators beingrdisposed in angular relation to each other andoperating in such a manner as to cause the pairs of massaginginstrumentalities to approach toward and recede from each other inprogressive relation, thereby further simulating theaction of thefingers of a masseur, for in massaging operations it is desirable thatthe rubbing or kneading treatment shall be so applied as to force theblood from the muscles in one direction, preferably toward the heart. Byreason of the progressive rubbing, or kneading movements of themassaging. nstrumentalitiesof the present device the same general actionma be obtained as the instrument is moved skin and the yieldability ofthe massaging instrumentalities provided by the springs A1 and 42prevent the. possibility of -the flesh being pinched so tightly betweenthe massag ing members as to produce injury eitherfto V the skin ormuscles.

ing. The device can be readily applied by the patient himself to thegreater part of his .a

tionzto cause themembers of said pairs of It will thus be seen that thepresent massaging cleviceis adaptedto perform the usual massagingoperation in a manner which very closely simulates manual massagbody andthemassaging operationmaybe accomplished much more rapidly than man-jually.

The rubber sheathing for the massaging instrumentalities permits the useof salves or.

ointments which will prevent irritation of the skin and also enables thedevice tobeused to facilitate the introductionof in redients into thesystem of the patient. After each i I V i extension, a plurality ofmassaging idevices "pivotally mounted upon the casing, actua- It will beunderstood that the embodiment 1 use the device can be thoroughlysterilized without injury to any of its parts.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. A massagingdevice comprising a pair of massaging instrumentalitiesand actuat ing means having resiliently yieldable con+ nection with saidinstrumentalities operating through said resiliently yieldableconnection to cause said instrumentalities alternately to approachtoward and recede from each other;

2. A massaging devicecomprising a pair of pivotally mountedmassaginginstrumentalities, a pivotally mounted'actuator yieldablyconnected to each of said instrumentali ties and means for moving saidactuators in opposite dlrectlons whereby said instrumentalities will bealternately caused toapproach toward and recede from each other.

3. A massaging device comprising a pair of pivotally mounted massaginginstrumen 'rality of pairs of massaginginstrumentalt tali-ties, Iapivotally mounted actuator for each massaging instrumentality havingarms yieldably connected respectively to opposite sides of saidmassaging ins'trume'ntality and means for simultaneously oscillatingsaid actuators in'opposi-te directions to cause said massaginginstrumentalities alternately to approachtoward and recede from eachother.

4:.A massaging device comprising apluties,a pivotally mounted actuatoryieldably connected to each of said massaging instrumentalities, meansfor oscillating the actuatorsfto causethe members of each pair ofinstrumentali-ties to approach toward and recede'ifrom each other andfor causing the members of adjacentpairs to move in progressively timedrelation whereby a progressivemassaging movement may be effected as thedevice is moved along the part of the'bodybeing treated. ,i

5. A massaging device comprising a plurality of pairs of pivotallymounted massag-- ing instrumentalities, pairs of pivotally -mountedactuators yieldably connected re spe'ctively to corresponding members ofthe i pairs of instrumentalities, means for oscil" lating the pairs ofactuators in timed relama'ssaging instrumentalities to approach tosivelytimed relation! I a p r 6. A massaging (lGVlCQ Conlpl'lslngfit caswardand recede from each other in progresing having} a handle portion and anextenshaft of said mo tor, a driving shaft in said torsyieldablyconnected to said massaging instrumentallties, and cams on saiddriving shaft for-progressively oscillating said actuators.

7. A massaging device comprising a handleportionand an extension, anelectric motor mounted in said handle portion, massaglinginstrumentalities pivotally mounted on said extension, alpivotallymounted actuator for each of said instrumentalities having horizontalarms yieldablyconnected respectively to opposite sides of said massaging1nstrumentalities and having an upwardly extending arm, a driving shafthaving eccen-, trics engaging said upwardly extending arm I andineansfor rotating said shaft from said driving shaft. I f p 8. Amassaging device comprising a casing having ahandle portion and anextension, a frame intermediate-of said'handle and extension providing ajournal for the shaft of said motor, a driving shaft journaled in saidframe, an extension arranged in axial alinement with the motor shaft,reducing gears for transmittin motion from said motor shaft to saiddriving shaft, a

plurality of pairs of massaging instrumenin axial alin ement with themotor shaft, re-

ducing gears for transmitting motion from said motor shaft to saiddriving shaft, a plurality of palrs of massaging instrumentalitiescarried by said extension and means for] actuating said massaginginstrumentalities from said driving shaft including'a series of pairs ofoppositely disposed cams operable to cause the members of the pairs ofmassaging instrumentalities alternately to'approach toward and recedefrom each other.

10. A massaging device comprising a casing having a handle portion andan exten sion, a frame intermediate of said handle and extensionproviding a journal for the shaft of sald motor, a driving shaftjournaled in said frame, an extension arranged in axial alinement withthe motor shaft, reducing gears for transmitting motion from said motorshaft tosaid driving shaft, a plurality of pairs of'massaging,instrumentalities carried by said extension and means for actuating saidmassaging instrumentalities from said driving shaft including a seriesof pairs of oppositely disposed cams operable to.

cause the members of the pairs of massag ing lnstrumentalitlesalternately to approach toward and recede from each other, the cams foractuating successive pairs being so disposed as to move the massaginginstrumentalities of one'pair of members in the opposite direction tothe movement of corresponding members of the next adj acent pair ofmassaging members.

'11. A massaging device comprising a plurality of opposed pivotallymounted massaging instrumentalities presenting spherical flesh engagingends, actuators yieldably connected to said massaging instrumentalitiesand means for operating said actuators to cause said massaginginstrumentalities alternately to approach toward and recede from eachother.

12. A massaging device comprising a casing having brackets extendingdownwardly therefrom, massaging instrumentalities pivotally mounted insaid brackets, a flexible sheathing inclosing said massaginginstrumentalities and said brackets and means for In testimony whereof Ihave signed my. name to this specification.

' FREDERICK K. NORTH.

